2019 elections: Defection of big wigs from APC’ll not affect our party’s electoral chances ― Basiru

THE candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Osun Central Senatorial District in the forthcoming National Assembly election, Dr Ajibola Basiru, on Thursday said the defection of some chieftains of the party to the opposition parties would not affect its electoral fortune at the polls.

He said APC remains the party to beat in the coming elections, saying with achievements recorded by President Muhammad Buhari’s administration, the ruling party stands the chance of winning the 2019 general elections with a landslide.

Speaking at an interactive session organised by the Association of Veteran Journalists (AVJ), Osun State chapter in Osogbo, Basiru attributed the increase in defection among politicians to lack of ideological focus in Nigerian politics.

According to him, “there is no clear cut of ideological focus in Nigerian politics again. Money politics has taken over and that is why politicians change party like garments.”

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“These set of politicians lacks ideological conviction. If we go back to classical politics, a political party must have ideas to move the society forward. Over time, when committed people get involved in politics, things would change for better”, Basiru remarked.

He continued “APC is the party to beat in Nigeria. We would win the presidential poll with a landslide. The opposition is raising an unnecessary alarm about rigging because they have realised that they will lose the election. Decamping of bigwigs from APC would not affect the chances of our party, neither my senatorial ambition.”

While contending that he possess the wherewithal to provide quality representation for the people of Osun Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly if elected, Basiru hinted that he would establish vocational training centres across the constituency to empower the youth.

He also added that projects and infrastructures capable of improving the socio-economic well being of the people would be facilitated to Osun Central Senatorial District if elected into National Assembly.